House Budget Amendments Update
(updated on April 27, 2016, at 1 p.m. EDT)
On Monday, budget week kicked off in the House of Representatives. MALC is excited to report that both amendments we opposed were defeated, while 7 of the 9 amendments we supported were accepted.
Thank you to everyone who contacted their State Representative last week and urged their rejection of detrimental amendments and support for key amendments that support artists of all disciplines, the arts, cultural and creative economy sectors.
Film Tax Credits Amendments Defeated
MALC is a strong supporter of the state’s Film Tax Credit program. Two amendments filed in the House budget proposal would have unacceptably weakened the program. They were both defeated.
- Film Tax Credit I Amendment #1090 was rejected on the House floor
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4200/Amendment/House/1090/OriginalText - Film Tax Credit II Amendment #1091 was withdrawn from consideration
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4200/Amendment/House/1091/OriginalText
6 of 7 Needed Library Amendments Accepted
The following important library amendments were accepted on the House floor:
- Board of Library Commissioners #967- passed as written and funded at $1,225,000 (line item 7000-9101)
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4200/Amendment/House/967/OriginalText - Massachusetts Center for the Book #1015 was funded at $200,000, not as requested at $250,000 (line item 7000-9506)
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4200/Amendment/House/1015/OriginalText - State Library of Massachusetts #1020 passed as written and funded at $38,075 (line item 1120-4005)
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4200/Amendment/House/1020/OriginalText - State Aid to Public Libraries #1024 passed but was funded at $9,500,000 instead of $10,000,000 (line item 7000-9501)
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4200/Amendment/House/1032/OriginalText - Library of the Commonwealth/State Aid to Regional Libraries #1032 passed as written (line item 7000-9401)
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4200/Amendment/House/1032/OriginalText - Library Technology and Resource Sharing #1078 passed as written-funded at $1,000,000 (line item 7000-9506)
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4200/Amendment/House/1078/OriginalText
The following library amendment was withdrawn:
- Library Sales Tax Exemption #1101
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4200/Amendment/House/1011/OriginalText
A crucial amendment to ensure healthcare for people who have HIV was withdrawn from consideration:
The artists community in Massachusetts, as well as throughout the nation, was devastated by this disease. This was a tough and personal defeat, yet MALC will continue the fight to get healthcare for people facing this disease.
More To Come
MALC will keep reporting on the budget process as the House continues its budget debate this week and the Senate takes up its budget work next month. Stay tuned!
(Note: the information above was updated on April 27, 2016, at 1 p.m. EDT)